User:(CA)Giacobbe/sandbox1

"Heart Out" is a song by English band the 1975 from their eponymous debut studio album (2013). The song was written by band members Matthew Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald, and produced by the band alongside Mike Crossey. The song was released on 18 August 2014 by Dirty Hit, Polydor Records and Vagrant Records as the fifth and final single from the album.

Music and lyrics
Musically, "Heart Out" is a pop, electropop and pop rock song. The song has a length of three minutes and twenty-two seconds (3:22) and was written by Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald, all of whom handled the production alongside Mike Crossey. The R&B-influenced track features a 1980s-style production with an electro four-to-the-floor beat, "abrasive" looping keys, warm vocal harmonies, "stabbing" synths, a "synthy" bass line, jazz horns, a staccato rhythm and synth-led guitars, with Elaine O'Flynn of Manchester Evening News characterising the production as synthetic and bass-driven. Lyrically, "Heart Out" is a tale of problematic young love, featuring a narrative that follows Healy and his love interest who, while "reckless to the point of fearing no consequences", are fearful of expressing their true feelings toward one another. Samantha Small of Consequence deemed the song an "anthem of small-town tomfoolery", describing the song's narrative as evoking "running around with your high school friends, watching hours of television, potentially (but probably) getting high".

"Heart Out" opens with bass and a ringing synth figure punctuated by the shouting of "hey!"s. Performed in a drawling post-punk style, Healy sings about how distance and age affect infatuation in lines such as "‘Cause I remember when I found you, much younger than you are now" and "And once we started having friends ‘round, you created a television of your mouth". The verses are driven by a retro-futuristic, staccato baseline before abruptly switching dynamics for a quieter chorus, with Healy singing the hook: "It’s just you and I tonight / Why don’t you figure my heart out?". The song's second verse represents a juxtaposition of self-love and self-deprecation, balancing "banal" inspirational lyrics such as "Why don’t you speak it out loud, instead of living in your head?" with darker statements including "Your obsession with rocks and brown and fucking the whole town is a reflection on your mental health". During the bridge, the synth, guitar and drums fade as Healy harmoniously pleas "You got something to say / Why don’t you speak it out loud / Instead of living in your head?" before a saxophone solo, performed by John Waugh, ensues. Scott Interrante of PopMatters said the saxophone solo was reminiscent of Richie Cannata's works.

Reception

 * Simon Butcher of Clash called the song "impressive", deeming it an album highlight.
 * Ryan Gardner of AbsolutePunk praised the song's layered production and catchiness, stating it makes one "really realize how talented this crew is".
 * Philip Matusavage of MusicOMH said the song was similar to the 1980s MOR-inspired work of Noah and the Whale, while stating that the song's contrasting lyrics were representative of the album's duality.
 * Michael Hann of The Guardian also compared the song with the work of Noah and the Whale.
 * Pat Levy of Consequence deemed it an album highlight, praising the use of 1980s movie soundtrack tropes and influence of John Hughes.
 * In the same publication's ranking of the band's most memorable lyrics, Small included the song's bridge, calling it a "freeing moment of honesty".
 * Jayson Greene of Pitchfork called it a "serviceable" pop rock song, comparing the track to M83's "Midnight City". The reviewer praised Healy's vocals, saying they "hit that ice-cream-headache sweet spot between pretty-boy quaver and adenoidal yelp", but also stated the singer was "gesturing towards feels endearingly carbon-dated".
 * In Paste's 2023 ranking of the band's 30 greatest songs, Matt Mitchell listed "Heart Out" at number twelve. The writer opined that the song was indicative of the band's future sound, lauded the bravado of Healy's vocal performance, the narrative world created in the lyrics and the saxophone solo, deeming it "one of the best horn sections from a pop song in the last decade".
 * In their 2022 ranking of the band's discography, Rhian Daly of NME positioned the song at number 6. Deeming it "the jewel in the crown" of The 1975, Daly praised Healy's provocative vocals and the song structure, calling it "anthemic".
 * Ashley Clements of Gigwise deemed the song an album highlight, calling it "instantly addictive" while praising the saxophone solo.
 * However, in his review of The 1975, Graeme Marsh of Stereoboard was ambivalent toward the song, calling it generally unremarkable.

Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Sex and The 1975 album liner notes. Recorded at Rose Cottage in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England


 * Matthew Healy – composer, guitar, piano, vocals, producer
 * George Daniel – composer, programming, drums, synthesizer, producer
 * Adam Hann – composer, guitar, producer
 * Ross MacDonald – composer, bass guitar, producer
 * Michael Coles – producer (EP version)
 * Robert Coles – producer (EP version)
 * Mike Crossey – producer, additional producer (EP version), mixer
 * Robin Schmidt – mastering engineer